Mayor of Perugia Issues Apology Over Controversial TV Series

The Mayor of Perugia, the picturesque Italian city where British exchange student Meredith Kercher was tragically murdered in 2007, has publicly apologized to local residents who are upset about a new television series being filmed in the area. In an open letter, Vittoria Ferdinandi expressed her regret, stating, “I apologize to those who felt betrayed by this choice.”

The eight-part series, titled ‘Blue Moon’, aims to depict the lengthy and tumultuous battle led by Amanda Knox to clear her name following the high-profile case. Knox, along with her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, was convicted of Kercher’s murder on two occasions. The couple spent four years behind bars before being released in 2011, and they were officially acquitted in 2015.

Kercher Family’s Opposition

The timing of the series’ filming coincides with the 17-year anniversary of Kercher’s untimely death. Her family has expressed their dismay, finding it “difficult to understand” how the series could serve any constructive purpose. Knox has reportedly profited significantly from her experiences, earning over €4.2 million from her memoir and participating in a Netflix documentary, along with being the subject of various books and films.

Community Response

Since the murder of Kercher drew international media attention nearly two decades ago, residents of the historic town of Perugia have been striving to restore its reputation. When film crews arrived, they were met with signs reading “Rispetto per Meredith” (“Respect for Meredith”), which were displayed prominently throughout the city last week.

Concerns About the City’s Image

In a poignant video shared on social media, former councillor Margherita Scoccia lamented, “For too long, Perugia was sadly famous in the world as the city of Meredith Kercher’s murder.” She questioned, “Is it right that our community is associated with such a terrible crime again?”

Amanda Knox is not only at the center of the series but is also one of its co-producers, alongside Monica Lewinsky, who is widely recognized for her involvement in a scandal with former US President Bill Clinton during the 1990s.

Mayor’s Justification

Mayor Vittoria Ferdinandi defended the decision to allow filming in Perugia, stating, “We couldn’t block the production, which would have taken place anyway.” She explained that the scenes could have been filmed in another town in the region. Ferdinandi argued that filming in Perugia would provide the city with some level of oversight regarding the series. “We felt that having the scenes filmed here would have been a greater element of guarantee and control,” she noted.

Reflecting on the situation, Ferdinandi admitted, “[I] lost sight of the people, the pain alive in their flesh while making the decision.” In a separate legal development, an Italian court upheld a slander conviction against Knox for falsely accusing Patrick Lumumba, a bar owner in Perugia, of being Kercher’s murderer. Meanwhile, Rudy Guede remains the only individual definitively convicted of the crime, having been released from prison in November 2021 after serving 13 years of his 16-year sentence.

Upcoming Release

‘Blue Moon’ is slated to be available for streaming on Hulu, although no specific premiere date has been announced as of yet.